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I don’t really do resolutions, but I was awake in bed one night this week (shout out to my insomnia) and began thinking about some things I’d like to do differently in 2017. Be more positive. Get more active. Stop doubting myself. Stop letting other people’s problems affect me so much.

Take more pictures.

I really slacked off in the picture department last year. I just couldn’t find the motivation or the inspiration. I’m sure if I’d tried at all to look for it, I’d have found some. But I didn’t, and I want to do things differently this year. So I’m tasking myself with what I hope will be a simple project. One picture a day. It doesn’t have to be my best, it just has to tell part of my story in 2017.

And I’m sure this won’t be hard to believe, but I totally forgot that I needed to take a picture today. So I slapped the speedlight on my camera and went to find my child. He was about to be my model whether he liked it or not. I was not going to fail on day one, dammit!

He’d just woken up from a nap. He was grumpy and hangry. So I did what any responsible mother would do. Gave him an entire bag of donuts.

When I’m old and gray I want to remember him just like this. Messy. Goofy. Happy.

I’m still going pretty strong with my Happy Haven Project, which makes me happy. This is usually about the time I start to lose steam on these types of things, so I’m feeling pretty good!

Last week I had planned to go search around some thrift shops for some supplies for a project, but the weather was really uncooperative so I decided to switch gears and work my way through a photography composition tutorial while Wyatt had a nap. I got to keep my stretchy pants on and I didn’t have to worry about getting frostbite. It was a wise decision.

I got one of my tiny gnomes out and went to work.

First up was a photo that adhered to the rule of thirds. Math is hard, so this is probably more like the rule of fourths or something.

Then balancing elements, where you use the presence of a less important element to fill a void in the photograph. I’m not sure I really achieved what I was going for, but I’ll take it.

Then I had to find some leading lines. Which I found more difficult than it probably should have been. I was probably distracted by the realization my gnome’s watering can spout vaguely resembles a penis. *sigh*

Next you were supposed to take a vantage point other than eye level. I spent a considerable amount of time trying to conceal the penis-spout, but ultimately decided I was just going to let it all hang out.

And then it was all about removing background noise so your subject stands out. Easily my favorite picture of a gnome holding a phallic water can.

Now onto creating a sense of depth. I had no idea what I was doing, basically.

Then I framed my gnome with a jug and some plates. Framing is supposed to help isolate your subject so it stands out more.